Background
Involuntary migration is a global phenomenon stemming from multiple humanitarian crises including war and environmental disasters. Those who migrate involuntarily are forcibly displaced from their home countries and seek safety from violence, trauma, and poverty. Over the past decade, more than 100 million people worldwide have involuntarily migrated from their homes. Half of this population consists of women and girls, most of whom are of childbearing age.
The definition of mothering includes women experiencing the processes of childbearing, birthing, and/or post-birth where infants are up to 6 weeks of age. Based on this concept and on the World Health Organization’s conceptualization of maternal health, the term “involuntary migrant maternal women” refers to women living with forcibly displaced migrant status and experiencing mothering processes. Forcibly displaced migrant categories are dependent upon the host country’s network of migrant policies. Examples of such involuntary migrant status categories include refugee, internally displaced, and/or stateless.
Women’s maternal health is linked to their migration journeys and their migrant status. Most of these women experience health disparities including higher rates of mental health concerns, forms of abuse and violence, limited prenatal care, and diminished social support.
Cultural and linguistic barriers exacerbate these disparities. Nurses are uniquely educated and informed by health promotion and illness prevention principles to provide care to those affected by multiple complex health issues. Understanding the unique experiences of nurses who provide care to involuntary migrant maternal women can highlight the capacity nurses hold in attending to the health impacts of forced migration.